Member of infamous Lackawanna 6 testifies in NYC trial

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. (WIVB) – More than 11 years after the so-called “Lackawanna 6″ were arrested and charged with taking part in a terrorist training camp, one took the stand in New York City.

The men are all free and most remain Lackawanna. On Thursday, Sahim Alwan testified in the trial of Sulaiman Abu Gaith, who was once married to Osama Bin Laden’s oldest daughter. Bin Laden’s son-in-law is facing federal charges of conspiring to kill Americans and providing material support to terrorists.

Alwan, now 41-years-old, tested he met Osama Bin Laden at the Al Farooq camp just months before the September 11, 20-1 attacks. According to published reports, Alwan told that court that on the way to the camp, he remembered hearing Abu Gaith discussing the Islamic concept of Bay’ah, an oath of allegiance.

Alwan also reportedly testified that Bin Laden asked him how Muslims were doing in the United States, and the Lackawanna native responded, “Good. We can practice our religion more freely than some Muslim countries.” Alwan testified that Bin Laden smiled after hearing that.

All of the Lackawanna 6 served at least seven years for providing material support by going to that camp.

Alwan is the third witness in the Manhattan trial, which is expected to last about three more weeks. He was on the witness stand on Thursday and will return to court for more testimony on Monday.

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